Big Prehistoric Mammalian Herbivores ~

[epaiva]

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

Diprotodon, meaning "two forward teeth", it is the largest known marsupial to have ever lived, it existed from approximately 1.6 million years ago until extinction some 46,000 years ago (through most of the Pleistocene epoch). Diprotodon fossils have been found in sites across mainland Australia, including complete skulls and skeletons as well as hair and foot impressions. The largest specimens were hippopotamus-sized: about 3 metres (9.8 ft) from nose to tail, standing 2 metres (6.6 ft) tall at the shoulder and weighing about 2,790 kilograms (6,150 lb). Aboriginal rock art images in Quinkan traditional country (Queensland, Australia) have been claimed to depict diprotodonts. They inhabited open forest, woodlands, and grasslands, possibly staying close to water, and eating leaves, shrubs, and some grasses.
The closest surviving relatives of Diprotodon are the wombats and the koala. It is suggested that diprotodonts may have been an inspiration for the legends of the bunyip, as some Aboriginal tribes identify Diprotodon bones as those of "bunyips". Reply